Pensioner Stunned After Finding Three-Foot Snake in Toilet
A 79-year-old resident of Bracknell, Berkshire, discovered a three-foot-long grass snake inside his downstairs toilet on Tuesday morning. David Claridge, who alerted authorities and later removed the reptile himself, believes the snake entered his home through the property’s drainage system.
### Discovery and Removal
Claridge first noticed the animal when he lifted the toilet lid and observed a yellow and black pattern protruding from the water. According to accounts provided to the BBC, Claridge initially doubted his own perception. “I thought I must be seeing things,” he said. “But I looked again, and for sure it was there. And then it moved.”
After identifying the animal as a grass snake—a non-venomous species native to the UK—Claridge opted to remove the reptile without professional assistance. Claridge noted that the snake initially attempted to return to the house, but he successfully guided it toward the grass, where it eventually departed.
### Drainage System Entry Point
Claridge attributes the snake’s presence to the recent warm weather, speculating that the animal entered the plumbing in search of water. He identified a potential connection between his home’s drainage system and a nearby rainwater drain, located approximately 1.5 meters away, as the most likely point of entry. “I didn’t realise the two were connected, and that’s the only way I can imagine it must have come in,” Claridge told the BBC. He added that he believes the intervention likely saved the animal, noting that had it remained trapped in the plumbing, it would likely have perished.
### Investigation of Local Reports
The incident drew local attention, leading to a brief case of mistaken identity. A nearby resident contacted the homeowner, fearing the snake might be an escaped pet. However, it was confirmed that the neighbor’s missing pet, a spider python, was located elsewhere the following day, confirming the snake found in the toilet was a wild grass snake. As of the latest reports, no further sightings have been confirmed at the property, and the incident remains categorized as a singular encounter with local wildlife.